Around the NBA III

[Captain Ballmer]

Luka out possible extended time. I wonder how Dallas gonna look without him. Last time their defense got better without Luka and their players mainly Dinwiddie, Grimes and Naji stepped up.

[Ballings7]

Lack of focus by Dallas with no Luka.. Naji Marshall and PJ Washington suspended.

Watch on YouTube

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/278558/Naji-Marshall-Receives-Four-Game-Suspension-Jusuf-Nurkic-Gets-Three-Games

4 games for Naji, 1 game for PJ.

Lucky for DAL they got Portland tonight, and decent depth on the wing..

[Ballings7]

One of the coolest things will see from a sports star like Wembanyama. Love this.

Watch on YouTube

Fun thing for the league, great for Wemby and the Spurs coverage. Will be a thing I bet people come back to routinely for illustrating Wembanyama as a figure in sports for other people.

[og15]

Read on Twitter

?s=19

Lakers trying to get better

[esqtvd]

Pat Riley does not suffer foolishness gladly. I would think the suspension is without pay, which in Jimmy's case is well into six figures.

Read on Twitter

[Captain Ballmer]

I just hope he stays out of the western conference teams but looks like its gonna be either Rockets, Suns, Warriors or Lakers.

[Ballings7]

I just hope he stays out of the western conference teams but looks like its gonna be either Rockets, Suns, Warriors or Lakers.

I bet he goes to one of these..

1. Memphis -- Miami has a rich trade relationship history with them... MEM has to give up Bane likely package around him, who would fit in well in Miami, and can see Memphis wanting to upgrade over Bane in the "now". Butler > Bane. Gives them a better chance to get out of the west than Bane. I dig Bane's game, though.. just think Memphis needs a mix up with better offensive creativity on the wing past Ja. Memphis adds Butler to go with Smart on the wing, and adds another grit/grind kind of dude for that culture.

2. Denver -- Jokic wants more edgy guys and would be the "wing" version of Russ' for them.. and makes up for any issues with Jamal Murray. Miami gets Porter Jr. package. Miami has to swallow some pride and realize they aren't going to see Denver again in the finals.

3. Detroit -- up and coming team, 1-2 years away. Have the assets for Miami.. Miami doesn't send him to a good spot for "now" and like that on the inside. Gets Cade a talented veteran for a half season at least. Butler fits the Motor City historical toughness figure (Billups, Ben Wallace, Dumars, etc) and would be a novelty for a little while, but probably not be around enough to wear out his welcome.

4. New Orleans -- Plenty of assets and wing talent to choose from for a package (around TM3, or maybe Ingram), Miami feels good sending him to a lost team that is bad in the west. Just a place to play, look good.. then bounce probably. Or, maybe he is a good omen for Zion and they get better over the summer together, etc.

I don't see Phoenix or GS without a third team recipe, unlikely. But, would be good fits on either.

Houston and OKC I don't think want to mess with their core and other vets chemistry heading into the POs.. but, Butler would be just what they need to ensure a deep playoff run. OKC would be the ultimate favorite in the West healthy. Houston a legit dark horse WCF finalist.

Gonna be neat to see... to narrow it down to 1 or 2... Memphis, and New Orleans.

Memphis.

Morant
Smart (whenver he's back)
Butler
JJJ
Edey

Quite a dynamic line-up on both ends.

[Sofia]

Don’t really care where Butler goes, as long as it’s not the Intuit Dome home locker room

[MartinToVaught]

Don’t really care where Butler goes, as long as it’s not the Intuit Dome home locker room

This. He's 35, misses tons of games, and is a toxic diva everywhere he goes. These Hail Mary trades for a big name almost never work out even in the best of scenarios, but trading the farm for a 35-year-old malcontent is pretty much begging for failure.

[Ballings7]

I just hope he stays out of the western conference teams but looks like its gonna be either Rockets, Suns, Warriors or Lakers.

I bet he goes to one of these..

1. Memphis -- Miami has a rich trade relationship history with them... MEM has to give up Bane likely package around him, who would fit in well in Miami, and can see Memphis wanting to upgrade over Bane in the "now". Butler > Bane. Gives them a better chance to get out of the west than Bane. I dig Bane's game, though.. just think Memphis needs a mix up with better offensive creativity on the wing past Ja. Memphis adds Butler to go with Smart on the wing, and adds another grit/grind kind of dude for that culture.

2. Denver -- Jokic wants more edgy guys and would be the "wing" version of Russ' for them.. and makes up for any issues with Jamal Murray. Miami gets Porter Jr. package. Miami has to swallow some pride and realize they aren't going to see Denver again in the finals.

3. Detroit -- up and coming team, 1-2 years away. Have the assets for Miami.. Miami doesn't send him to a good spot for "now" and like that on the inside. Gets Cade a talented veteran for a half season at least. Butler fits the Motor City historical toughness figure (Billups, Ben Wallace, Dumars, etc) and would be a novelty for a little while, but probably not be around enough to wear out his welcome.

4. New Orleans -- Plenty of assets and wing talent to choose from for a package (around TM3, or maybe Ingram), Miami feels good sending him to a lost team that is bad in the west. Just a place to play, look good.. then bounce probably. Or, maybe he is a good omen for Zion and they get better over the summer together, etc.

I don't see Phoenix or GS without a third team recipe, unlikely. But, would be good fits on either.

Houston and OKC I don't think want to mess with their core and other vets chemistry heading into the POs.. but, Butler would be just what they need to ensure a deep playoff run. OKC would be the ultimate favorite in the West healthy. Houston a legit dark horse WCF finalist.

Gonna be neat to see... to narrow it down to 1 or 2... Memphis, and New Orleans.

Memphis.

Morant
Smart (whenver he's back)
Butler
JJJ
Edey

Quite a dynamic line-up on both ends.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/278686/Jimmy-Butler-Has-No-Interest-In-Trade-To-Grizzlies

Well nevermind then...

Dude keeps changing his mind on the trade landscape.

[Ballings7]

Kuz' gearing up for the trade deadline..

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/278918/Kyle-Kuzma-No-Longer-Trying-To-Fit-In-With-Wizards

Kind of amusing read, but I think he's gotta be like that at this point, if not sooner.

Gonna be neat to see where he goes, to me he's saying: "Hey I'm gonna showcase for the next couple weeks, find me a new spot".

Line vs. PHX:

30pt (12-24), 11 reb, 4 ast, five 3s (5-9), 34 min.

I would not mind one bit if LAC got him, but feel like he'll go somewhere else.

[Captain Ballmer]

Read on Twitter

Biggest trade I have ever saw in my time.

I just dont know how Lakers got luck this much.

[ejftw]

Smh

[Bobbymcgee]

Weren't the Clippers saving their pennies and nickels to have a shot at signing Doncic in a couple years? Guess that's not happening anymore.

[Max Headrom]

Weren't the Clippers saving their pennies and nickels to have a shot at signing Doncic in a couple years? Guess that's not happening anymore.

I want no parts of that out of shape crybaby. And the fact that Dallas approached the Lakers let's me know that Luka had worn out his welcome even though they did everything to keep him happy.

[og15]

Weren't the Clippers saving their pennies and nickels to have a shot at signing Doncic in a couple years? Guess that's not happening anymore.

I want no parts of that out of shape crybaby. And the fact that Dallas approached the Lakers let's me know that Luka had worn out his welcome even though they did everything to keep him happy.

There's definitely justification for the Luka detractors with this trade, but a 25 year old MVP candidate who just took his team to the finals being traded is not normal.

[Max Headrom]

Weren't the Clippers saving their pennies and nickels to have a shot at signing Doncic in a couple years? Guess that's not happening anymore.

I want no parts of that out of shape crybaby. And the fact that Dallas approached the Lakers let's me know that Luka had worn out his welcome even though they did everything to keep him happy.

There's definitely justification for the Luka detractors with this trade, but a 25 year old MVP candidate who just took his team to the finals being traded is not normal.

It's not but when you consistently come into the season out of shape, complain so much that you don't get back on defense that the other players on the team get pissed at it (I've seen Dallas players this season visually display their displeasure of it) it screams red flags. For Cuban to sign off on this is very telling. Cuban probably never even thought of trading Dirk but hevtrades Luka to a western conference rival? Something is definitely up

[og15]

I want no parts of that out of shape crybaby. And the fact that Dallas approached the Lakers let's me know that Luka had worn out his welcome even though they did everything to keep him happy.

There's definitely justification for the Luka detractors with this trade, but a 25 year old MVP candidate who just took his team to the finals being traded is not normal.

It's not but when you consistently come into the season out of shape, complain so much that you don't get back on defense that the other players on the team get pissed at it (I've seen Dallas players this season visually display their displeasure of it) it screams red flags. For Cuban to sign off on this is very telling. Cuban probably never even thought of trading Dirk but hevtrades Luka to a western conference rival? Something is definitely up

Cuban gave up his majority ownership and has no more personnel move powers, so he has no part. I don't know if he would sign off if he still had power and influence.

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?s=19

[TrueLAfan]

I mean, it’s one of those trades I really see as a lose-lose. Dallas gets a considerably older guy that still lacks a complete supporting cast. The rest of the Dallas starters are average-ish; the bench is below that. A very good level B player—someone like Norman Powell—would make the Mavs title competitive. I don’t see that coming. They don’t have enough assets or picks to move up much. Everything would be lateral. You kinda have to keep Lively and Washington—with AD, that’s a formidable front line. But Klay? Dinwiddie? Jaden Hardy? Are you betting on the development of Hardy and Max Christie? That’s risky—and needs to happen fast. The Mavs are in Win Right Now mode. I guess an offseason trade of, say, Christie and Gafford and a pick could get them something that would help. Maybe.

As for the Lakers—look, make no mistake about it. This is a roll of the dice for the future. Luka is a 25 year old guy that’s been an MVP candidate for half a decade. He’s also the most ball dominant wing in the league being paired with a still effective but clearly declining superstar that is also ball dominant. I guess some people will say that “LeBron will change his game.” And my answers are, in order: “Will he?” … because that’s hard for anyone, much less a 20 year vet. And “Is that a good idea?” … because you’re keeping LeBron James and paying LeBron James to be LeBron James. Hoping or wanting him to be something different is kind of a fool’s errand, imo.

Thing is, the Lakers will have tons and tons of cap space in 2026-7. They could get two superstars to team with Doncic. But—man—they are going to have nothing else. The rest of the contracts that year are Jarred Vanderbilt, Bronny, and Shake Milton. Bronny and Shake aren’t guaranteed. Austin Reaves has a player option … but here’s the thing. Do you want him to keep it? He’ll be an MLE salary at that point. You pick up two guys for $100 million in free agency, and you’re over the cap. That’s a ridiculously top heavy team. And I think recent examples--like us--have shown the dangers of the “we can patch through with vets and low cost signings!” path. Even if it was LeBron and two other great players, I don’t see pairing them with Jarred Vanderbilt and Austin Reeves is (anything close to) enough. You have, literally, no bench. I guess you’re hoping that Luka improves (!) and gets healthier (!!) – and that is a big, big risk. I guess the Lakers figured they had to take it … but what does that say about the current team make up? To me, it’s a huge trade that’s a puzzling trade that could, possibly, maybe help the teams but is a (whole) lot more likely to do the opposite.

[Ballings7]

What the heck is this? Insanity!

Wow..

Luv the controversy and shake up though, as a fan of the league -- incredible

Dallas are warped.

I can't see AD/Kyrie, being reliably good enough to get back to the Finals again. Maybe, they are definitely both A-level talents and stars.. but would lean towards no.

Lakers are not winning anything this year or next until they get better defensively, mainly at big, and at the guard spot.

Obviously mostly about the longer-term with Luka in LA, and to have the "torch" passed for the league and the Lakers well-being; while reaping the fun-factor with LeBron and Luka together.. trying to put together a lighting in a bottle situation short-term.

Add: LeBron I bet plays two more seasons past this one, maybe even three.

Can't wait to see some of the reactions to this over the next week or so haha